7th Circ. Upholds Conviction Despite Hidden Evidence

By Parker Quinlan

The Seventh Circuit ruled on Tuesday that it is unable to reverse a denied federal habeas petition because a state appeals court did not act contrary to federal law in affirming a defendant's conviction despite state prosecutors not disclosing key witness interviews.

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Chicago Can Access $2B Trump Froze For Transit Upgrades

By Celeste Bott

An Illinois federal judge on Tuesday granted the Chicago Transit Authority a temporary restraining order forcing the Trump administration to lift its freeze on more than $2 billion in funding for city train line upgrades, saying the administration "changed the game midstream" in applying a new rule for the transit grants retroactively and singled out Chicago and New York in doing so.

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Judge Extends Halt On Trump Admin's College Data Demand

By Julie Manganis

A Massachusetts federal judge on Tuesday again extended a deadline for colleges and universities to comply with a Trump administration demand for seven years of race and gender admissions data while he considers the scope of an anticipated preliminary injunction that would shield public schools in 17 states.

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$5.7M Cigna Ghost Network Deal Receives Final Go-Ahead

By Lauraann Wood

An Illinois federal judge gave his final sign-off Tuesday to a $5.7 million settlement in what he called an "interesting" case accusing Cigna of improperly advertising out-of-network providers as though they're in-network for certain benefit plans it administered.

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Chicago Cannabis Co. Inks $250K Tip Theft Settlement

By Jonathan Capriel

Chicago-area budtenders are asking a federal judge to approve a $250,000 deal that would end a proposed class action accusing their employer of unlawfully taking tips meant for them and giving the money to managers and supervisors.

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DOJ Says Gov't Attys Can't Be Punished Over ICE's Actions

By Ryan Boysen

The Trump administration says a Minnesota federal judge erred by holding a government attorney in contempt after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement flouted a court order, claiming the lawyer was "wrongfully held captive to induce ICE's compliance."

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Judicial Conference Backs Latest Judge Newman Suspension

By Jack Karp

The federal judiciary on Tuesday upheld the latest extension of Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman's suspension and the decision not to transfer her case to another circuit, finding neither to be unconstitutional.

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Goldstein Seeks New Trial, Citing 'A Series Of Legal Errors'

By Emily Sawicki

SCOTUSblog founder and appellate icon Thomas Goldstein has filed a lengthy motion for a new trial or acquittal after his conviction on a dozen criminal charges related to tax evasion, alleging his trial was marred by improper jury instructions, improper exclusion of evidence and inadequate evidence, among other things.

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Analysis

Fraud Task Force May Boost White Collar Defense Work

By Phillip Bantz

A new federal anti-fraud task force involving at least a dozen federal agencies could soon expose more state and local governments, contractors, companies and others to compliance risks, particularly in healthcare fraud and False Claims Act cases, experts say.

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Fla. Judge Faces Discipline For Remark About Shooting Attys

By David Minsky

A Florida state judge is facing a public reprimand after admitting to becoming frustrated with attorneys in an estate dispute and saying that he "would like to tell the deputy to pull his gun and shoot all three of you," according to records filed Tuesday in the state's high court.

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Senate Confirms Chief Of New DOJ Fraud Division

By Courtney Bublé

The U.S. Senate voted 52-47, along party lines, on Tuesday to confirm Colin McDonald to the newly created assistant attorney general for fraud role.

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Reed Smith's Silence On Depo 'Speaks Volumes,' Ex-Atty Says

By Jake Maher

A former Reed Smith LLP attorney suing the firm for underpaying her based on her gender criticized the firm for its "inexcusable delay and attempted meandering" in seeking to resume deposing her years after her last deposition date.

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Beasley Allen Says NJ Justices Review Of Talc DQ 'Essential'

By George Woolston

Beasley Allen urged the New Jersey Supreme Court to hear its appeal of a lower court's decision to disqualify it from representing plaintiffs in multicounty litigation over Johnson & Johnson's talc-based baby powder, arguing that the court's immediate review of the interlocutory order is "essential."

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